Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-13
senator Conser and His Watch.


Senator Conger, member OF the late
legislature, is busy these days exhibiting
n handsome gold watch presented him
by 'old soldiers" as he claims, as re.
ward for his "untiring," 'indcfatigable"
and promiscuous skirmishing in secur-
ing the location of the soldiers
home at Grand Island. While it
is true that Grand Island will secure
a soldiers home, the part that Sen
ator Conger played in passing the bill, or
in any way aiding its passage, remains
something of mystery. In the first
place, Conger was notorious as a rail-
road lobbyist, and what he called his in
fluence" was nothing. But what is
strange about the watch presentation
is the fact that he should claim
the &. A. Il. made him the pres
ent. The BEE at the time this
expression of appreciation, occurred
was furnished with list of names of the
magnanimous doners, and when it re.
members Conger's record. it Is forced to
admit that the 'old soldiers" who reck-
lcssly subscribed the "amounts set appo-
site their Names" did it only to reward
an old comrade for work well done.
The first soldier subscribing to the
Conger watch fund, was the peerless,
battle-scared veteran Colonel John Nj.
Thurston. He could not restrain his
emotion, as he recalled the bloody bat
tles-he had read about, and immedi-
ately wrote his name for S25. While Mr..
Thurston never had chance to smell
real powder, as the Union Pacific attor.
ney he knew good thing when he saw
it, and .Comrade Conger had his full
sympathy.
According to the list furnished us the
next old soldier whose young heart
filled with bitter recollections Of blood
stained battle fields. the picture of which
he had often looked at when boy some
ten years ago, was General c. w. Mosher
The general said in as much as Comrade
Conger had been where the bullets were
thlckest in the long and hard-fought bat
tie to get the convict labor contrac
through, he would cheerfully subscribe
$25.
Captain A. s. Paddock, who will soor
write a series of war articles for the Cen
tury Magazine. While the captain was
busy during the war, he yet felt lik'
being one of the old soldiers who woulc
help buy watch for Conger because
| Of his services in securing thu
| soldiers home at Grand Island. o
course Comrade Conger voted for Pad
dock for senator-but then that wa
| nothing.
j. w. Deweese, who was major
drum major--perhaps. IN tit Of reckles
liberality wrote down $500. Considering
the fact that he had given Comrade Con
ger several trip passes, his donation wa
considered sufficient.
Private Church Howe, who was
soldier, subscribed $95, but Conger ha'
happy way of voting for the Missouri
Pacific right of way, which together wit
his services of securing the soldier
home at Grand Island, Church though
that there was nothing like rewardinj
the brave.
The list furnished US also goes on to sa
that subscription of $500 from the cit
liens of Grand Island" was given the Cor
ger watch fund ; but the latest advices fror
that city say there was no such amour
subscribed, and that the SOLDIERS" men
toned above, with two additions, ful
nished the watch to Conger, telling hir
it cost $255, when in reality it cost $l5;
The best thing that MIR. Conger can do
to give the watch rest. 1t is we
enough for him to indulge in the grl
pleasantly of telling people that he
running for congress next year, but
has made the "old soldier" racket
chestnut. The Grand Army of Rasca
mentioned above will hold a reunion
the next legislature.